Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a full-time position on a 4-day week (8:30 am – 6:30 pm), offering a rare combination of work-life balance and clinical variety. You’ll work in a practice that’s genuinely committed to giving you time and space to develop skills across all areas of small animal medicine and surgery, with consulting and operating duties shared equally among the team. The out-of-hours commitment is refreshingly light: just a 1:4 Saturday morning rota with no on-call shifts, no Sundays, and no night work—Old Stone Vets recently partnered with a local practice to make this happen.

Based in the stunning North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you’ll split your time between the main surgery in Alston and consult-only branches in Stanhope and Allendale. This set-up gives you brilliant case continuity, lets clients see a familiar face, and means you’re never working in isolation. You’re only 45 minutes from Newcastle or Carlisle if you need a city fix, but the area itself is a walker’s, mountain biker’s, and trail runner’s paradise—proper seasons, big skies, and real peace and quiet on your days off.

The practice is ideally looking for someone with some experience and a completed VetGDP, but what they really want is the right person: someone genuinely enthusiastic, kind-hearted, and who thrives as part of a close-knit team. New graduates won’t be turned away if your attitude is right.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality small animal consultations and clinical care across three branches
• Perform surgical procedures (orthopaedics, routine surgeries, and emergency work) with support and mentorship available
• Use in-house diagnostic facilities including DR X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy, and laboratory services to work cases up thoroughly
• Participate in case discussions with colleagues—the team regularly bounces ideas around and discusses interesting cases together
• Contribute to the rota fairly and equally, including Saturday morning out-of-hours work on a 1:4 basis
• Support mentorship of colleagues, particularly those developing orthopaedic skills

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon with RCVS registration
• Completed VetGDP (desirable but not essential if you’re the right fit)
• Some practical experience preferred, though genuine enthusiasm and a collaborative attitude matter most
• Willingness to engage with case discussions and share learning with the team
• Ability to manage a busy consulting and surgical schedule
• Valid UK driving licence (rural practice with multiple branches)

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £40,000–£65,000 depending on experience and qualifications
• 5.6 weeks’ annual holiday, including bank holidays, with time off in lieu if you work a bank holiday
• Professional development actively supported (no set CPD budget—the practice genuinely funds your progression, including certificates)
• Professional fees covered: RCVS, VDS, and one professional subscription of your choice
• Monthly car cost contribution plus generous winter tyre allowance (essential for rural Pennines living)
• Private health insurance
• Pension scheme
• Visa sponsorship available

About the Practice

Old Stone Vets is an independent small animal practice established in 2005, serving the North Pennines with a reputation for excellent care and genuine commitment to their team. What started as a one-man mixed practice has grown into a thriving five-vet operation with a main surgery in Alston and two consult-only branches in Stanhope and Allendale. In July 2025, the practice made the deliberate choice to focus fully on small animals, allowing the team to deepen their expertise and expand thoughtfully.

The culture here is collaborative and supportive. Vets and nursing staff work as equals—there’s no hierarchy, everyone mucks in, and the team genuinely looks after one another. The practice is led by Karl and Rachel, experienced vets with a clear commitment to clinical standards, ongoing development, and creating an environment where hard work is noticed and valued. The support team (head nurse Jo, receptionist Michelle, office manager Victoria, and others) are described by staff as brilliant and essential to the practice running smoothly. Facilities include digital radiography, ultrasound (with visiting Advanced Practitioner Karen Errington attending fortnightly for complex cases and in-house training), endoscopy, and in-house laboratory, allowing the team to handle most cases in-house with time for thorough workups. The practice has a genuine focus on doing things properly and supporting each other every step of the way.